Queen Mary 2 (QM2)

Overall Member Rating

The Queen Mary 2 experience

Sail Date:
June 2012
Destination:
Middle East
Embarkation:
Dubai

We drove to Southampton and were transferred to the coach station by ACP Southampton then to Heathrow for the flight to Dubai. That all worked well as did the transfer to the docks which was part of the package by Imagine Cruising. We were then messed about for a couple of hours before getting on board ship. It was as if someone had planned a way of ruining the embarkation experience. People were happy to wait but an impressive amount of people had been recruited to keep passengers amused, confused and frustrated by their antics.
The ship was more than impressive, our steward followed up on our queries and did far more for us than expected as did our waiters in the Britannia Restaurant. We used the Britannia for breakfast and lunch and each time found the staff and food to be first class. The pleasant and efficient service seemed to rub off onto the passengers who were, on the whole, pleasant and sociable.
After adjusting to the heat we were able to keep fully occupied by the More
numerous activities, quizzes and competitions as well as taking in the scenery which included the HMAS Melbourne which was engaged in protecting ships in the area of the Arabian Sea. She circled around us before resuming her patrol and was a very welcome sight.
The entertainment was excellent in all respects. I failed to go to a Planetarium show. Less

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Cabin review: BC Balcony

Nice cabin and probably the quietest air conditioning we have experienced on a ship. We were not really happy with the clothes hanging arrangements and were amazed to find that there were no hangers in one cupboard. This was remedied by our steward who supplied us with wire hangars! Cunard White Star Service clearly did not apply. Perhaps previous customers had left the ship with the original hangars.

Port and Shore Excursions

Corinth Canal by Boat

We have often thought of visiting Corinth and the Canal and having looked up the history was pleased to have the opportunity of experiencing the four mile transit and seeing it for ourselves.
I wouldn't want to cruise the Canal without also visiting Corinth

Corinth Museum

The trip through the Corinth Canal followed by a visit to Corinth and the museum was well worth a visit and easily our best excursion of the cruise. The guide was knowledgeable and helpful. We finished with a very nice Greek meal at a lovely beach hotel before returning to the Port of Piraeus

The port of Sukhna was where we stopped for those visiting the Egyptian sites. We chose to stay on board and were pleased that we did not venture out into the port at all as there was a sandstorm which obliterated everything beyond 50 yards or so. This was delivered by a 40 knot wind which necessitated the Captain using his engines to keep the ship on station and for a while the gangways were not operable. This storm threatened to delay our Sueze Canal transit the next day as the holding port where ships congregate before entering the canal was closed. All was resolved and in time for our transit fortunately.